Winners

A shutout win

The Sounders under Brian Schmetzer have always been a stronger defensive team. This year hasn’t necessarily been any different, although their last shutout came on April 6th. After posting 3 shutouts in their first 5 games, the Sounders went on a run of 5 games without a clean sheet. That changed against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night. Even more impressively, they did it without 2 of their 6 starters in the back six, and arguably the two most important members of the defensive unit, Chad Marshall and Gustav Svensson.

Following the match, Brian Schmetzer credited his whole team with a stronger defensive performance, but the two stand-ins, Roman Torres and Jordy Delem, had killer games. Delem was constantly breaking up the middle of the park and Torres did well to make some clearances in the box.

Oh, and Kim Kee-hee had a fantastic defensive game.

Frei’s game saving stop

This clean sheet was Stefan Frei’s 70th of his career, and after the match he was quick to give praise to his teammates for the achievement. Frei’s only save of the match was this stop he made on Alberth Elis after Elis was through on goal. Sometimes a save is as good as a goal, and this is definitely one of those times.

Roldan back to back goals

Don’t really have a lot to say about this. Cristian Roldan is good at soccer and good at scoring good soccer goals.

Losers

Houston’s attack & road form

The Dynamo’s attack this season is serious. They’re obviously going to be a problem this season, and to an extent, they were against the Sounders. Had the Dynamo finished their chances in this match we would be having a different conversation, but here we are and we are not. The Dynamo have just 3 road wins since 2017, when they knocked out the Portland Timbers in the playoffs in Portland. At this point, they’re a completely different team when they play away from their home turf.

Injuries, again

Just as the Sounders got near fully fit, they’ve been bitten by the injury bug yet again. In the 11th minute Victor Rodriguez went down injured without any contact from a Dynamo player. He instantly made motions to the bench that things weren’t great, and within seconds he was taking a seat on the sideline and Harry Shipp was being readied to enter the game. Shipp doesn’t enter the match until the 15th minute, and he goes the full nine-erm, the full 75.

Chad Marshall also didn’t start this match as he continues to nurse a knee injury. Not the place the Sounders want to be in during a 3 game week, with 4 of their next 5 matches being on the road.